Key West Symposium to Explore Truman’s Foreign Aid Legacy May 18-19

KEY WEST, Florida Keys — While many Americans are pondering their vote for the nation’s 45th president, political figures and scholars are to gather in Key West to examine the foreign aid policies and legacy of the 33rd president.

The Truman Legacy Symposium, exploring the lasting impact of Harry S. Truman’s 1945-1953 presidency, is set for Friday and Saturday, May 18-19. The event is headquartered at the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., where the former president spent 11 working vacations.

Scheduled speakers include former Florida governor and three-term United States Sen. Bob Graham, Truman grandson and author Clifton Truman Daniel, U.S.Rep.Russ Carnahan of Missouri, director of the Truman Library Michael Devine, Truman staff member and former West Virginia secretary of state Ken Hechler, Tom Zeiler of the University of Colorado and Mark R. Jacobson, former director of international affairs at the NATO International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Afghanistan.

The symposium begins Friday, May 18, with a 6 p.m. reception on the grounds of the Little White House. The carefully restored property is now Florida’s only presidential museum. Tours will be offered.

The reception is to include remarks from Clifton Truman Daniel, Graham’s keynote speech and a presentation on current foreign aid policies and programs moderated by Graham and featuring Carnahan.

Saturday’s symposium is to start with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the Marriot Key West Beachside Hotel, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Presentation topics will explore the Truman administration’s use of foreign aid in its formulation of foreign and defense policy.

Events are to conclude with a 2 p.m. lunch at the hotel.

Cost is $125 per person and includes the Friday night reception, symposium admission and Saturday lunch. An a la carte menu of activities also is available.